The Milwaukee Bucks (44-24) take on the Boston Celtics (54-14) Wednesday with tip-off from TD Garden set for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Bucks vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Bucks come into town fresh off a 140-129 goring of the Phoenix Suns Sunday without F Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s out again Wednesday. G Damian Lillard and F Bobby Portis Jr. each had 31 points, and the Bucks got double figures from 6 players. The Bucks pulled ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for 2nd in the conference.
The Celtics are 10 Games ahead of the Bucks, and in all likelihood, will clinch the top seed soon. They’ve rattled off 6 straight wins after dismantling the Detroit Pistons 119-94 Monday without F Jayson Tatum and G Jrue Holiday. G Jaylen Brown‘s 31 headlined a quartet of players with 20+ points, including C Kristaps Porzingis, G Payton Pritchard and G Derrick White.
Bucks at Celtics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Bucks +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Celtics -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Bucks +10.5 (-110) | Celtics -10.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 223.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Bucks at Celtics key injuries
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) out
Celtics
- G Jaylen Brown (ankle) questionable
- G Jrue Holiday (shoulder) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Bucks at Celtics and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 121, Bucks 106
Moneyline
Treat betting on the Celtics through the rest of the regular season like you’re holding a stick of dynamite. They’re so far ahead of the pack, they could rest anyone at any time, and Brown on the injury report may signal his night to chill.
Still, they’re 31-3 at home this year and have enough to beat anyone even short-handed. There’s no play on the ML here, but I love what I’m seeing from Portis. He’s inconsistent, but he has dropped 20+ in 3 of his last 7. He went 5-for-5 from long range Sunday, and I’ll take BOBBY PORTIS JR. OVER 1.5 3-POINTERS (+125).
Against the spread
This is a trap spread. The books will entice casuals to throw down on Milwaukee, but this line has been steamed up from 7.5 to 10.5. That’s because sharp bettors know this and are set to cash in. I would have taken the Celtics at -7.5. They have the talent to blow the doors off the Garden, but do they have the incentive? Too dicey for me. So let’s cook up a very winnable SGP. Take the CELTICS -4.5 + JAYSON TATUM 5 REBOUNDS + JAYSON TATUM 4 ASSISTS (-105). JT has 5+ boards in 5 straight and 4+ assists in 5 of 6. This feels like a game he’ll look to facilitate before they pull starters in the 4th.
Over/Under
Boston is 4-5-1 O/U over the last 10, and Milwaukee is 3-6-1. Head-to-head, the Over is 5-5 in the last 10. Money is pouring in on the Over, according to PreGame.com. The total has only gone up and down 1 point, so let’s take advantage before it goes up a couple of more.
Take the OVER 223.5 (-115).
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